Investigation of Ex-Syracuse Coach Dropped

By

Jared Diamond

Nov. 9, 2012 7:01 p.m. ET

After interviewing about 130 witnesses and combing through more than 100,000 pages of documents, prosecutors have dropped their year-old investigation of sexual-abuse allegations against former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach
Bernie Fine,
federal authorities said Friday.

The probe "revealed insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal charges," said
Richard Hartunian,
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, concluding an investigation that cost Mr. Fine a job he had held for 35 years.

"The nature and seriousness of these allegations, which involved conduct typically committed in private with individuals who are reluctant to come forward, warranted a thorough federal investigation," Mr. Hartunian said.

Mr. Fine, 66 years old, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

His attorneys,
Karl Sleight
and
Donald Martin
of Harris Beach and
David Botsford
of Botsford & Roark, said in a statement they were "not surprised" by Mr. Hartunian's decision, and that they "greatly appreciate his decision to publicly announce that decision." They said that "the damage inflicted upon Bernie and his family is simply immeasurable."

On Nov. 17 last year, two men who decades earlier had worked as Syracuse ball boys alleged on national television that Mr. Fine had molested them as children, prompting the school to place Mr. Fine on administrative leave. Two other men later came forward with similar allegations, although both eventually recanted.

Mr. Fine, who has denied any wrongdoing, was fired 10 days after the initial allegations. That brought to an end 35 years of helping head coach Jim Boeheim run one of college basketball's most successful programs. It is unclear whether Mr. Fine will seek his job back or pursue legal action against the university.

Kevin Quinn,
Syracuse's senior vice president for public affairs, said in an email that "the decision last November regarding Mr. Fine's employment was the appropriate step to take and it was made in the best interest of the university."

Soon after the first accusers made their allegations, Mr. Boeheim made a statement expressing support for Mr. Fine and skepticism about the accusers. That statement—for which Mr. Boeheim quickly apologized—prompted the accusers in December to file a defamation suit against Mr. Boeheim. In May, a judge in New York State Supreme Court dismissed the suit, saying that Mr. Boeheim's comments were an opinion rather than a statement of fact.

An athletic-department spokesman said neither the department nor Mr. Boeheim would issue any statement.

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